Saturday, 23 October 2010

Phase One offers investment protection plan

Phase One has announced a guaranteed trade-in scheme for customers wishing to upgrade to newer products. Within 6 months of a new product being launched, existing customers can receive up to 90% of their original purchase price against digital backs and up to 50% against camera bodies and lenses.

Press Release:

Helps Customers Secure their Investments

COPENHAGEN, September 29, 2010  – Phase One, a leading provider of medium format digital camera systems, today announced an unprecedented new-product investment protection plan.

Effective immediately, Phase One is offering customers security when they buy a Phase One product. Now customers are guaranteed first class investment protection should they wish to upgrade to future Phase One innovations as new products are launched over the coming years.

Eligible customers who have purchased their products from an authorized Phase One partner and wish to upgrade to a new product within 6 months of its official launch, are guaranteed to receive:

90 percent of their original purchase price against any new Phase One digital back launched at a higher price within 18 months of the original purchase date.   50 percent of their original purchase price against any new Phase One camera body launched at a higher price within 24 months of the original purchase date. 50 percent of their original purchase price against any new Phase One or Schneider Kreuznach lens for the Phase One 645 camera platform launched at a higher price within 24 months of the original purchase date.

 “Engineering and development is Phase One’s biggest investment,” said Henrik O. Håkonsson, CEO and President of Phase One.  “And we are eager to reward customers who have faith in us and invest in our products. Through this Loyalty & Investment Program, we are inviting them to share the benefits of our passion for driving technical breakthroughs and delivering the best possible products to market.”

Phase One professional camera equipment is available only through authorized Phase One partners worldwide. For further details, including how the protection plan works for the purchase of fully-configured camera systems, please see the partner closest to you: http://www.phaseone.com/en/Try-and-buy/Partner-Locator.aspx.

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How to Take Good Pictures With Your Digital Camera - 3 Digital Photography Tips


Read lots of articles and tutorials, then try out what you learn with your digital camera. What follows are a few very good digital photography tips that can set you apart from the photography crowd. These tips are very simple, yet they are extremely effective in getting that "WOW" factor into your images.

Of all the advice given on photography websites as photographers critique each others' images, this probably ranks number one in digital photography tips. Move the main subject out of the center of the photo frame. Our tendency is to center the subject, but it is much more interesting if the main subject is not dead center in the photo. This works really well if you have a person or a pet that is looking toward an imaginary object that is to the side of the camera. Try to take your photo while they are NOT looking at the camera. Place them so they are looking through the picture. That is to say, they are looking across the picture. Do not have them looking to the short side of the picture.

If you are taking pictures of nature, the same rule applies. Move your camera so that the flower or butterfly is not in the center of the picture. Of course, you can break this rule if you want to. After all, you are in control, but be aware of where your subject is in the picture before you snap the shutter.

Another of the top three digital photography tips is to use depth of field to highlight your subject. Depth of field refers to how much of the picture is in focus outside of the subject. For instance, if you take a picture of a beautiful flower in a garden, try to set your camera's focus so that only the flower is in focus. This can be accomplished with a feature in some of the newer cameras in the "creative mode". It is a great idea to read the camera instructions, because they are adding more and more of these kind of creative features to each new release. Depth of Field will definitely get you the "WOW" factor.

The third of the "how to take good pictures" tips is to use a tripod. A tripod can do several things for you. Of course it will steady your camera and give you the best possible opportunity to get your camera in focus. But a tripod will also make you take your time in setting up your shot. You have to think about where you want to place the tripod as you compose the shot in your mind. The process of thinking through your shots is one of the best ways to improve your overall outcome. A tripod is also handy when you want a group shot with yourself included. Just set your camera's timer and jump in.

You definitely need to practice in order to take better pictures. Cameras are getting more intuitive all the time, but if you don't know what you want before you press the shutter, what you get will be ... a surprise. Sometimes it's a good surprise, but if you decide to take control of the setup, before you press the shutter button, you will get consistently better output.








Continue to study and learn about how to take good pictures, and you will reap the benefits. There are more digital photography tips all over the Internet. One really good way to learn to take better pictures is to join a photography club in your area. For more tips and hints about taking better pictures visit http://www.betterphotos123.com.


Friday, 22 October 2010

Digital Photography Tips - How to Raise and Train Your Camera - Part 1


Trust me on this. You got to look after your digital camera. No matter what type of camera it is! In my case, it's a digital thing that's as heavy as a small log, and keeps making pictures when I press the button. Do I know how to use it? Not really. I just know how to make it take photos. The rest of the details are in the manual for the technical experts to read. Me, I got work to do. Anyway, as this article is about photography tips I thought you'd like to know how to raise and train your camera.

The first thing, like all new cameras, is that you've got to feed it regularly. Now don't skip this step! It's important. You'll know when it needs to be fed. It'll calmly blink at you and eventually shut down. That means you won't be able to take any more photos. But don't worry when this happens. It's just telling you it's hungry. So, make sure you plug her in and give her a good feed. Preferably overnight.

Here's another 'training your camera' photography tip. Most new cameras will know what to do straight out of the bag, but you'll have to show them a few extra tricks as you go. Stuff like how to hang on the end of a tripod, or stay steady in an unsteady person's hands. Or how to get the red eye thing down, or stay waterproof. You get the idea, right?  

Like I almost said, digital cameras usually know all this intuitively anyway. And if they don't, it's possible they're playing silly, so do be careful. Usually though they just want you to be gentle with them. A few calm words of wisdom whispered in their ear does wonders by the way. A digital camera will always listen to you...

And, oh yeah. Sometimes these digital cameras come with little guide books (also called camera manuals) about how you can teach them new digital tricks and so forth. You'd do well to read that. That'll give you more 'training your camera' photography tips than you can shake a stick at. In the meanwhile, keep training!








Get more photography tips and photo marketing advice from my signature below...

Martin Hurley's http://photomarketeers.com site will show you how to sell your photos online, how to set up a profitable photo website and how to easily get marketing your photography. Download a free guide to creating a stunning WordPress blog and uncover amazing marketing photography tips while you're at it!

(c) Martin Hurley 2008


Best Travel Photography Tips For Beginners on Vacation


How often do you return from a long-awaited vacation with bags of photos, only to never look at those snapshots again once you're home? This doesn't have to happen. In fact, by following some basic travel photography tips, you'll make sure that you return home with photos that you'll want to look at again and again, even if you are a beginner on vacation.

Most vacations offer plenty of stunning scenes to shoot. The first tip in capturing these images is to follow the rule of thirds. This rule basically states that you shouldn't place the subjects of your photos directly in the middle of the frame. By placing them off-center, you create a more visually appealing photo.

The rule of thirds also states that when shooting landscapes you should place the landscape slightly closer to the top or bottom of a photo. Photos are simply more interesting when they are asymmetrical. This is an essential tip that all photography beginners should learn!

All you budding photographers should also scan the scenes you want to photograph for interesting angles. Don't settle for a straight-on shot. You might snap a more arresting shot if you take it from your knees or if you look down from the top of a parking garage roof.

It's important, too, to be mindful of the position of the sun. Never have people line up for your photos so that they are staring straight into the sun. They'll surely be squinting when you snap your shot. Don't place your subjects directly in front of a light source, either. That will merely result in a silhouette when you snap your shot. This is a beginners error that you need to avoid. Through knowledge you will take better photographs and on vacation is a great place to practice.

Where should your subjects stand, then? Place them so that sunlight or any other light source falls on their side. Not only will this prevent both silhouettes and squinting, it will create a series of visually interesting shadows.

Today's digital cameras come with plenty of technology. Take advantage of it. This means using your camera's scene mode facility. This mode automatically sets your camera's settings depending on the time of day you are shooting, the amount of sunlight available and the type of shot, landscape or portrait, you are taking. The scene mode can help you snap some incredibly professional shots. As a beginner learning how your camera works will pay big benefits.

By following just a few travel photography tips, you can be sure that you'll bring home a photo album's worth of stunning shots of friends, family members, ocean views or mountain scenery. It just takes some practice with your camera, a few new shooting techniques and a willingness to use all the tech tools that come with your photography equipment.








Before long you will longer be in the beginners bracket for photographers and once you learn more travel photography tips you will soon be able to take some great shots when on vacation or anywhere else. Just mastering the rule of thirds to get the best beach photos will bring instant improvements to your travel photographs. Photography is great fun and the more photos you take the more enthusiastic and proficient you will become.


Digital Photography Tips That Work Fast and Easily


So you want some digital photography tips that work quick and are easy? Well, photography is not that hard to start getting good at. It's like playing an instrument. Anybody can get to a decent level but those that are very dedicated and with some talent are the ones that become great. I will try to show you how to become great.

The key for a beginner to start taking better shots is actually divided into two different keys...

1. Ultimate Control Over Your Camera and Equipment

2. Compositional Expertise

Experts have these two down pat and you as a beginner must try to develop these as best as you can. When expert photographers take photos they spend very little time composing a shot. Instead, they focus their attentions more on the message, the style, and what they want the photo to do to the viewer. That's art!

Until you get to that level, master these two aspects of photography.

Technical Expertise.

This may be the easiest part to photography. It's kind of like math. You must understand what exposures to use, what aperture, shutter speed, etc for proper exposure and such. If you don't know what those terms mean then you need to learn!

Basically, shutter speed is the device in the camera that controls the amount of time light that is let in. Aperture controls how much light is let in. So, when you take a photo the camera lets light in a certain amount of time from a certain size of an opening.

Compositional Techniques:

There are lots of compositional techniques, and honestly, a lot of these tips conflict with one another. The key is to use the compositional tip that works with the situation your in. For a sample, I'll give you three powerful and easy to implement techniques:

1. Isolate. Beginners make the mistake of trying to photography everything in a single shot. Don't. Take a simple picture with a definite subject that anybody will understand as the main object of interest. If a viewer has to ask what to look at, you have a cluttered shot.

2. Avoid the Middle. People that take photos for "memories" take shots dead center. You want photos that look nice and thus, are going to want to use the rule of thirds. Simply stated, it says to avoid the middle. Place the subject to the left or the right, top or bottom.

3. Use Lines. Many different tips come into this category of tips. Use lines to lead to the subject of interest. This can add more impact to the subject. For example, have lines on a road lead to a car far head. Also, you can use lines to set the mood. Vertical lines make shots look fast paced whereas horizontal lines make relaxing shots like the beach.

This was just a brief touch to the tips and techniques out there for taking awesome shots. The ultimate tip towards success, however, is one you are going to hate hearing: practice! Overstated but true.








Al Sanez has a Free Photo course that teaches beginners digital photography tips. He also has a Digital Photography Guide


Thursday, 21 October 2010

Digital Photography Tips - What's Wrong With This Picture? Part I


What's wrong with this picture? Hey, what's wrong with your pictures? Look, I've got news for you if you're a photographer trying to sell your photos online. There's some things you really NEED to do in order to sell more photos. So read this article. It's about to give you a few digital photography tips on how to tweak your photos just right so that buyers absolutely love them...

Firstly, if you've already been shooting some pictures, I want you to take a good hard look at them. Then I want you to visit some of the top stock photo websites and see what type of images are popular. Keep your mind open to ideas here. The stock photo world is HUGE... And there's always a need for good 'art photography' as there is for travel, close up, people, animal photography, etc.

Now as you observe some of the more popular stock photographs, you'll see that the photographer not only captures a stunning image, but often there's a lot of 'use-able space' in the image. What I mean is that, more often than not, a good stock photo is composed of not only a beautiful image, but also enough space so that a photo buyer, or art director, can add some specific text or a headline to the image.

In fact, try this. Go to Cnn.com or Time.com and look at the photo based advertisements that run on these sites. See how a lot of the photo advertising uses words (headline or text, inside the photo) to explain the story further? The photo gets your attention... and the words 'pull' you in. So, when you go to shoot stock photos, not only do you want to capture a great image, but you want to leave some 'space' in there so your photo is attractive for advertisers too!

Thus you discover that many of the good stock photos have a careful composition to them. Think about the photo buyer for a minute. Think about how your photo can help 'sell' or promote their product. Are you creating photos with enough space or room to move? Study this stuff. It's one photography tip you can take to the bank, believe me!








Martin Hurley's http://photomarketeers.com site will show you how to sell your photos online, how to set up a profitable photo website and how to easily get marketing your photography. Download a free guide to creating a stunning WordPress blog and uncover amazing digital photography tips while you're at it!

(c) Martin Hurley 2008


Canon PowerShot SD1300IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Blue)

Canon PowerShot SD1300IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 4x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Blue)Its all about the power of contrast.Color that defies convention.Sleek gentle curves that merge art and technology into a camera designed to inspire.The PowerShot SD1300 IS Digital ELPH camera captures your world as much as it expresses your originality with bold innovations that include remarkable low light performance.Everything looks right.Hold it and everything feels right too.

Price: $179.99


Click here to buy from Amazon

Digital Photography Tips - How to Raise and Train Your Camera Part 3


Sometimes, no matter what you say to your digital camera, it just won't listen. Have you ever experienced that? It drives me nuts. There I'll be, on the summit of an incredible mountain with the sun breaking through and 360 degrees of exquisite worldly views... And the battery dies. Now if something horrible like that has ever happened to you then read this article. It's about to hand you a few digital photography tips about how you can prevent it ever happening again...

Now let's not kid ourselves here. Digital cameras should know when you're climbing mountains. Or snowboarding. Or rock climbing. You know... the adventurous stuff. But the trouble is they don't. Or they do and they try to hide the fact. I personally wouldn't stand for it. You've got to be firm with them. And if that doesn't work, you'll have to do something drastic...

Before I hand out this 'secret' photography tip though, let me say this. Sometimes you have to do the things you don't want to do. It's true. And so my tip is simply this. You got to read the camera manual sometimes. I know... I hear you! But it's got to be done. And another thing too. Carry spare camera gear with you everywhere you go...

You think I'm joking right? Well listen up. On my way to an Indian holy festival (that comes once every 12 years), we made a stopover in a Nepal. As I was watching a few passionate photographers ready their gear, one of them accidentally stuck his finger through the mechanism part of his film camera. And believe me, with no chance of repairs within thousands of miles, this guy WAS not a happy camper.

The point is this. Had he been carrying another camera body he'd be sorted, and not crying his eyes out as the photographic opportunity of a lifetime slipped away into the Himalayan mist. (If this is not a good digital photography tip then I don't know what is!) So if you're serious, then be prepared. Carry your backups. Double check everything. Sometimes, you only get one shot at it...








Get more photography tips and photo marketing advice from my signature below...

Martin Hurley's http://photomarketeers.com site will show you how to sell your photos online, how to set up a profitable photo website and how to easily get marketing your photography. Download a free guide to creating a stunning WordPress blog and uncover amazing digital photography tips while you're at it!

(c) Martin Hurley 2008


Just Starting Out Digital Photography? Here Are 10 Photography Tips for the Absolute Beginner


At the start, taking photos may seem difficult; however with this set of 10 photography tips, you are much closer to taking great photos than you think. You don't need any expensive cameras or even years of photographic experience. You just need a willingness to learn and this set of photography tips.

Make sure you are having fun!

1 - Fill Your Photo with Your Subject

Do not be frightened make use all of the empty area inside your shot. If you intend to take a picture of an object, it can be alright for it to take up the full photo with no background being displayed. Keep unnecessary distraction out of your picture.

2 - Examine Your Subject's Shape

Study a subject's shape is more important than just looking at a subject. The shape or form of the subject is a key driver as to the angle that you take your photo from. This is an area that I think you should spend some time reading more into as I can't cover all aspects of this here.

3 - Avoid Motion in Photos

Motion in photos of still objects ruins the shot. You must ensure that your subjects are absolutely still before you take your shot. You can also increase your ISO or shutter speed to "freeze" your subjects if there is wind or environmental movement.

4 - Color Contrast Makes Your Photo Interesting

When composing your shot, ensure that you keep in mind that colors that contrast can add interest to the photo. Think about colors like yellow and green, red and blue and of course the evergreen black and white.

5 - Don't Stay Too Far, Get Up- Close

If you are too far away from your subject, you will end up with photos that don't have any focus and will tend to be quite bland. By getting up- close to your subject, you will ensure that the viewer will know what you are taking a photo off and your photos will be much better.

6 - Taking great photos at Night

Taking photos at night can be quite tricky; however, once you get the hang of them, you could have some pretty amazing photos. Ensure your ISO is at its highest setting and slow down your shutter speed to around 1 second. This ensures that you get as much light into the camera as possible and can result in some spectacular shots.

7 - Pan your camera

By panning your camera together with a subject that is moving from start to finish, you will end up with some very interesting photos. The background will be motion blurred and the subject will be in focus. You can improve this tip by combining it with tip 8.

8 - Multiple Shots

Burst mode is the beginner's best friend. By shooting in continuous mode, you will capture more moments than if you shot in single frames. Afterwards you can delete the crappy shots and keep the best. Your friends will never know the difference.

9 - It's not the size of your lens that matters, but how you use it

Have you heard this one before? It's true. Your camera and equipment is secondary to how you actually think about how you are going to compose and take the photo. Use your time on this rather than whether you have the latest and greatest lens or camera.

10 - Understand your Manual

Don't just throw away that manual, read through it and keep it in your camera bag at all times. Not knowing how to use all the functions of your camera is the same as not knowing that you car has a reverse gear or the 5th gear. It will make the world of difference actually know how to set your camera for the right situation.

These photography tips aren't comprehensive, but they are definitely my top 10 for starting to take some amazing photos.








Learn more about Digital Photography. Jon Chan is an avid photographer who loves sharing his learning with people.

Stop by Jon Chan's site where you can read more Photography Tips.


Wednesday, 20 October 2010

Mastering Digital Photography Made Easy

International Hall of Fame Photographer, Terry Day's, class on Mastering Digital Photography is a complete digital photography lesson course. This course is filled with over 110 stunning example photographs.

Take a look!

4 Family Photography Tips!


This is a modern world, and we are modern...families! No matter who the members of your family are, chances are you love capturing their smiles, laughs and happy times with our age's newest and latest technology. Cameras and photography have come a long way since they were first invented, so don't feel bad if you're not quite caught up with all the techniques out there.

While the "traditional" family portrait may cut it sometimes, we think your gorgeous family needs some modern shots to preserve precious moments. If you've been looking for fast, easy and fun techniques to help you catch all of your modern family's great memories, we've got a treat for you today!

Sarah Sloboda is a lifestyle photographer from New York City who is committed to inspiring people by showing them how beautiful their lives really look—with great-looking photos! Award-winning, trained in filmmaking and documentary-style photography and with a passion that's clearly evident, Sarah doesn't keep all her talent to herself; in fact, she shares photography tips online to help families take the most beautiful photos of their own members on her crazy-useful blog the University of

We've gathered our top four favorite family photography tips:

-Don't be shy

Sarah suggests getting down low to your baby and kids' level by getting right down on the ground with them to capture their great smiles and expressive faces. Also get in as close as your camera will allow: you'll capture all those precious emotions better. 

-Act normal

Don't resort to funny faces or waving stuffed animals to get your kids to "perform" on camera. Just take photos as usual and let them eventually grow used to having a camera around. You might not always get a smile, but you will always get genuine reactions from your kids!

-Find a rhythm

Sarah's brilliant idea of putting on some music for your kids for a casual photo shoot in your home is right on target, and she suggests bringing out costumes and just letting your kids having fun dancing and moving.

-Turn off the flash

Our personal favorite tip of Sarah's (and one we can't underscore enough) is to turn off the flash!

You'll see the photograph in natural light and get to experiment with the composition, producing beautiful, natural and flash-free photos! What are your favorite tips when photographing your family? What's the best photo you've ever taken of a loved one, and the story behind it? Share with us your own great family photography ideas!








Jennifer Gruskoff is a screenwriter who lives in Los Angeles. Earlier this year she launched a company called Goodkin http://www.WeAreGoodkin.com a website that focuses on the lifestyle and trends of non-traditional families, where she is currently Editor In-Chief.

http://wearegoodkin.com/article/4-family-photography-tips


Portrait Photography Tips - Shooting in Low Level Light


It is comparatively easy to capture portraits when you have complete control of the lighting. But what about when you have no control and the available light is limited? The following portrait photography tips are intended to offer some lighting and photography concepts to make a low lighting situation a bit easier.

Common situations dealing with low level lighting are conferences or weddings at the moments where something important is happening and a flash would be a rude distraction. In order to shoot portrait photography reasonably well in this situation you must know quite a bit about the characteristics of your camera.

The Camera

To take portraits in low lighting it is imperative that a single lens reflex (SLR) camera be used. SLRs allow complete control over the major characteristics of the camera: size of aperture opening, shutter speed, and the ISO setting of the image sensor (using a digital SLR).

The Aperture

The aperture is the iris like opening in the lens body that controls the amount of light that is let into the camera; the smaller the setting, the bigger the opening. Without a flash, the necessary setting of the aperture will depend on the amount of light in the room. There are lenses available that have very small aperture settings (large opening) but they can be very expensive.

The point here is that if you have a limited light source, start with the lowest aperture setting and adjust higher as needed.

Shutter Speed

Allowing the shutter to stay open longer will allow more light in but it also allows for any motion to be captured; motion to a camera translates to blur or streaking. Because of this, a tripod or some other stabilizing device will be necessary. The longer the shutter is open, the more necessary the tripod (this is one of the key elements in all of my portrait photography tips). If you are expected to move about a crowd, a unipod may be a better choice.

Try to keep your shutter speed slow enough to let enough light in but not so slow as to capture movement. This can take quite a bit of practice but can make the difference of having to buy an expensive large aperture lens or not.

ISO Setting

The ISO or film setting of your camera determines the sensitivity of your image sensor. The larger the ISO setting the quicker it reacts to light. Using a high setting in limited light will allow your sensor to react quicker to the light that is available. The balance here is that ISO settings above 400 tend to result in grainy pictures with some cameras; this is becoming less of a problem with the progressive development of image sensors but it still happens.

Balancing out your aperture, shutter, and ISO settings in different lighting environments can take a bit of practice but it is better to do this than to use a disruptive flash during the I Dos of a wedding or when the boss may be making a presentation at a conference.

I hope these portrait photography tips have shown some of the concepts to keep in mind when shooting portraits in limited lighting without a flash.








Check out our Photography Tips site for more Portrait Photography Tips.


Tuesday, 19 October 2010

Polaroid CAA-330RC 3.0 MP Digital Camera with 1.5-Inch LCD (Red)

Polaroid CAA-330RC 3.0 MP Digital Camera with 1.5-Inch LCD (Red)3.0 MP Digital Camera with 1.5-Inch LCD Display

Price: $49.99


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Digital Photography 4 The Creative Eye

All in one Digital Photography learning guide.E-book covers digital photography basics and image editing illustrated using Photo shop Cs3 .


Take a look!

Photography Tips and Tricks


A lot of people would find a digital camera an affordable and useful gadget nowadays. With the new models coming in every now and then and the price getting lower, people can now afford to buy one. Don't you want to take your photos to the next level and amaze your friends and loved ones on how you did it. Well I read a couple of books and would share some tips on how to take better photos.

Take it off center

The usual photos of people that we take always places the subject in the middle of the picture. This is one thing that you should avoid doing. Why don't you place them a little to the right or left and see how it makes a dramatic change to the boring picture. You may also do this with sunsets or when taking pictures of the ocean. Place the horizon off center. Emphasize the sky more or the water more. This is why it does not look like any other photo that you have seen.

Find other angles

Don't be afraid to move. Look for other interesting angles that will emphasize your subject more. Shoot from above or below and you'll notice that your photos will look even better.

Frame your shots

When you're shooting the ever so normal sunset, you may want to place something to frame it to make it different. Example of this is an arching tree or a row of huts. You may also place people in the scene to make it more interesting and to make it different and unique.

I have found a really neat eBook that you may want to check out to learn more about Photography tips and tricks. I have found this book very useful in taking my hobby into the next level. Digital Photography Secrets is the title of the eBook and aimed at beginners who would want to further enhance their skills in Photography.

Another eBook that I also read was Digital Photography Success. You may want to check them out and I'm sure you'll find lots of information, tips and tricks that you'll enjoy and make use of when you're out with your camera and taking those once in a lifetime shot.









More Portrait Photography Tips and Tricks For Great Portraits


In my last article on portrait photography tips and tricks we discussed some new or different ways to approach a portrait. Portrait photography can be the most difficult and the most rewarding type of photography. Difficult because it is a portrait and you want to have the subjects personality show. Most rewarding because when you can get that to happen you have more than just a photo, you have a portrait.

Here are some more portrait photography tips and tricks to get you thinking out of the box and engage your subject for a great photo.

Candid Camera

No, I'm not telling you to use a hidden camera but to get candid shots. Posed portraits can look artificial and staged. When you get your subject involved in doing something your pictures are likely to be more natural and show more of your subject's individuality. What is your subject's hobby? Are they a gardener? Do they tinker with old cars? Are they a cook? Get them involved in what they love and it will show in the portrait. Use a long zoom lens if you like so you feel less intrusive. Of course action sports shots like skiing, hiking, sailing, climbing etc are wonderful but unless you also participate in the sport, they're pretty tough on the photographer!

Use a Prop

This technique is especially good with kids. Give them something to play with and all you need to do is keep up! You do need to make sure the prop doesn't become the focus of the portrait instead of the subject. Do allow the prop to add interaction and a sense of place and story to the portrait and show your subject in a different light, adding another layer to them.

Focus on One Part of the Body

Get close up on just part of your subject and not necessarily the face. Think how much a person's hands say about them, especially if they work with those hands as an artist or craftsman. What would the feet of a dancer show about your subject? Or a many-pierced ear? Or the back of a neck with a small tattoo just glimpsed in part of the picture?

All of these portrait photography tips and tricks add interest to the portrait as well as showing parts of your subject's personality that might not otherwise show in a more traditional portrait.








I'm an amateur portrait photographer. My favorite subjects are portraits of dogs and kids, especially together. Stop by PHOTOGRAPHYPOSE.INFO for tips on how to pose models and taking great portraits.


Monday, 18 October 2010

Working From Home - Microstock Photography Tips


Digital photography, a couple of years ago had been limited to only a pastime or perhaps a passion nurtured by many. These days, it is a full-fledged profession for making your income. With the foray involving high-tech digital cameras through superior resolution and pixels, photography has improved so much and has expanded towards something a lot bigger than only a past time. Nowadays, there exists a considerable market thriving for talented photography fans to exhibit and get paid for their own digital photographs in the huge arena of Internet, meaning that you can practically start up a web business using only Digital Photographs along with the readily available Stock Photography internet sites.

Learn methods to make money on the net through your digital photographs, using these types of Stock Photography tips right from the start.

Submit your digital photographs online at Stock photo websites similar to, iStockphoto, Crestock, Stockexpert, Fotolia, along with Dreamstime. These websites supply a foundation to photography enthusiasts coming from across the world to stash their artwork as well as exhibit all of them to a good prospective array of online customers. These kinds of internet sites directly display ones pictures to those people who are keen on artwork form such as interior designers, e commerce designers, advertisers' etc. These types of web sites don't charge any account service fees; however, there may be a few that do. The point to note is that such online websites sustain a high quality for their art intakes. Consequently, anything under their expected quality would be liable for rejection.

There is no space for the elementary image by a beginner photographer online, which means don't waste any of your own precious time unnecessarily, and also pay close attention to the following Stock Photography tips meant for a quick internet business financial success. Your projects must be of superior caliber, which means they will be discovered by the online consumers. To make sure of a fine caliber commodity, always click your picture using a high pixel photographic camera after which make use of the resources of Adobe Photoshop in order to polish the particular photo applying its modifying tool.

Make an impressive portfolio together with close to 15-20 pictures you consider are your very best effort to date. Keep the efforts securely in your personal computer with a backup of each photo stored separately as different data file labels. Make the names associated with the documents readily available so that you won't need to operate some sort of search command to find them.

Keep in mind that superb pictures are uncommon, so, it will always be advisable to carefully transport your digital camera while moving around. The actual likelihood of discovering money-making photos near the vicinity of your respective city tend to be rare, so taking the entire camera apparatus would provide the possibility of trying to find good photos at distant locations. Also, make sure to snap at least 3-4 photographs of the subject matter image. This may provide you with the chance of selecting and choosing the best from all of them.

Utilize any enhancing as well as cropping applications of image modifying software to help boost the attractiveness of the photo. One of the most well-known and also practical photo editing software is Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Photoshop Elements. This kind of software is best suited for those in search of image accomplishment options including brightness fixing, color enhancement, resizing, cropping etc. If you happen to be a new comer to this software it will be essential to carefully browse through the demo DVD disks or maybe Compact disks to help get the grasp of this computer software.

Be sure you publish the photograph to the Microstock photo internet site only if you are absolutely certain of the fine quality. Upload your very best photograph initially to protect yourself from denial, which definitely wouldn't help to get your own online photography business to prosper from the beginning.








Check out these FREE Microstock Photography Tips that expose how to sell Microstock Photography Online and Discover how to make money with just a digital camera, PC and Internet connection by reading Dan Feildman's Microstock Photography Tips today!


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Wedding Photography Tips to Ensure You Capture the Beauty of the "BIG" Day


If you are asked to do the photography for a wedding, this is a huge responsibility. Everyone has heard horror stories about wedding day photo disasters, and the last thing you want to do is disappoint the happy couple. The wedding day is one of the biggest events in a person's life, and one that they want to remember forever. Photos give them a way that they can look back at that special day. To make sure that you get great results when photographing a wedding, here are a few wedding photography tips to keep in mind so you capture the beauty of this special day.

Tip #1 - Find Out What the Couple Wants

First, you need to talk to the couple and find out what they want from their wedding photographs. Every couple is going to be a bit different. Some may want formal shots, while others may want more candid photos. Take time to meet with the couple before the wedding, get to know their personalities, and make sure you have a clear picture of what they want. The more you know about what their preferences are, the more likely you are to get the wedding shots that they want.

Tip #2 - Ask for a List of Specific Shots

Another of the important wedding photography tips to keep in mind is to ask for a list of specific shots that they want done. Have them think about what they want to remember about the day and the wedding album they would like to have. Let them list the shots that they want to ensure they get on their wedding day, such as photos with family, photos with particular friends, and more. With this list, you can ensure you get the shots they really want on their wedding day.

Tip #3 - Check Out the Wedding and Reception Sites

Before the wedding, take some time to check out the wedding and reception sites. This way you know what you can expect. You'll know the back drop you are working with and you will also get a good idea of the lighting conditions you will have to deal with. This allows you to take some time on your own to come up with good locations for some of the wedding photos as well and you'll have a better idea of the equipment you'll need to have with you on the day of the wedding.

Tip #4 - Always Have Backups

When it comes to equipment, one of the best wedding photography tips is to make sure you always have backups of everything. Have a backup camera, backup batteries, backup flash heads, extra film or memory cards, and a backup of any other equipment you plan to bring. This way if something goes wrong, and it can, you ensure you have a backup so the bride and groom are not left without photos of this important event.

The wedding day is extra special and a once in a lifetime event. Make sure you are well prepared if you will be taking the photos. With these wedding photograph tips, you'll be well prepared and ready to take beautiful photos that the couple will treasure throughout their married life.








Bennetta Elliott is a writer for Personalized Gift Express which sells unique personalized gifts and favors for every occasion. They have a great variety of unique wedding favors.


Sunday, 17 October 2010

6 Digital Photography Tips For Better Composition and Framing


You can have the best camera and the best lighting, but if you don't practice your composition and learn how to frame your shots, your pictures will be just average. It all begins with a vision and learning how to capture an image in the cameras viewfinder. The camera is a photographers tool that allows them to transfer their vision to the photo paper.

In this article you will find 6 composition and framing tips to help you improve your digital photography skills and create shots that are more than just average. Practice these simple tips the next time you grab your camera.

Tip #1 Shoot Vertical

When shooting a human subject, your format will be vertical 99% of the time. This is what a photographer calls a "Portrait". If you shoot horizontally, it's referred to as a "Landscape".

Tip #2 Shoot Off Center

One thing that a lot of beginning photographers do is capture their subject exactly in the middle of the frame. There is no rule that says you have to place the subject in the center of the photograph. Some compositions can be more exciting and dramatic if the subject is framed off-center. It gives the image a sense of movement and leads the viewer into the photographer.

Tip # 3 Fill The Frame

Try to fill up the frame with the subject. It is natural to show too much of the surroundings by shooting too wide. Very successful head shots can be produced when there is no space above the head or even with some of the head cropped off. This simple tip alone can make your ordinary photos look more professional and interesting.

Tip # 4 Using Your Subjects Eyes

The eyes are our most expressive feature. Try to keep the eyes in the upper third of the frame and not exactly in the center. Very often the viewer of a photograph is drawn to the face and expressive eyes can make a very dramatic photograph.

Tip #5 Create Your Own Center

There should be only one center of interest when creating you images. You may have several subjects in the photograph but you can still achieve this by having the subjects touching one another or overlapping.

Tip #6 - Learn What To Crop

Don't crop off limbs at the joints. For example, a photograph that is cropped at the elbow will look strange. Cropping at the forearm or bicep area will give a more natural look.

Final Thoughts:

Use these simple Digital photography Tips to help you improve your composition and framing. Practice often and learn from every shot you take and soon you will be shooting like a professional.








Scott Voelker is the creator of NewPortraitBiz. He has taught 1,000's of students how to start a photography business. To receive his Free video lessons visit http://newportraitbiz.com

Visit Scott's Blog at http://newportraitbiz.com/blog for even more up to date Free lessons.


Top Digital Wedding Photography Tips


When you are looking into beginning a digital wedding photography career, there are a variety of different tips that you may want to consider too become a great wedding photographer.

First of all, you are going to want to consider the locations that are available in your area. Knowing what locations you have been available to get the best perspective for the couple is a great plus. You will also need to be sure that you are aware of places that you can position yourself during the ceremony, reception, and the formal shots as well. There are times that you may have to have the couple come with you to these locations so that you can take a few test shots.

You should also consider creating a list of the various shots. It is important that to a successful shot to know when and where the couple would like their shots to be taken. You need to be sure that you write down from beginning to end where each of these shots should be taken. Part of what you are getting paid for is the ability to create digital pictures to capture their special day. You should never be afraid to make suggestions or even tell your couple which ideas of theirs may not work. The best wedding photography tip here would be to be sure that you are confident in your knowledge of digital photography. After all you probably already know that all weddings use the same techniques and principles.

Another great digital wedding photography tip [http://www.bestweddingphotographytips.com] would be to make sure that you realize that planning is essential to all your digital wedding photography elements. You need to be sure that you are well prepared before all shoots. Be sure that you have plenty of batteries and all of your memory cards have been properly formatted. Just in case of bad weather you need to be sure that you and your couple have an alternate location setup. Make sure that you set up an itinerary for your wedding needs. Being well prepared to make all the difference in your career.

The final digital wedding photography tip for you is to be sure that you get creative. When you choose to use a unique style you will be assured of repeat customers. Be sure that you are showing your overall confidence and also be bold as well as decisive while at the same time being open to suggestions from your clients. This is a great idea for your business and gives you a great way to showcase your talent.








[http://www.bestweddingphotographytips.com]


Photography Tips


Just about everybody fancies himself or herself to be a photographer. As soon as somebody gets a camera, they start clicking away. And they start looking for photography tips. Which is great - you get tips on how to take photos underwater, you get photography tips that tell you how to get rid of reflection on window panes - you even get photography tips on how to take great pictures when you are skydiving.

So, how often do you plan to take photos underwater? Or when you are skydiving? Or paragliding, for that matter. The one big photography tip that everybody ignores, that should be the first thing to do is - read the manual. Read the manual, from the beginning till the end, and do not imagine that you can just figure things out as you go along. Making it up as you go along does not work with photography.

Once you read the manual, you will have a fairly good idea of what kind of adjustments to make - what size aperture to use for what kind of photos, the exposure time, the mode you should use - the basics. With digital cameras, you can do a lot of things very easily.

Once you are through with that first important step, the next important photography tip you have to keep in mind is that you have to start small. Start with familiar objects. And, this is important, start with familiar objects that stay still and are not thousands of miles away. Those are for the experts. Now, you might, with time and practice, become an expert, but you have to give yourself plenty of time and get plenty of practice.

Start with inanimate objects, and try to capture light and shadows. This is a little tricky, but once you get the knack, you can do it. The trick is to know what it will look like as a photo when you look through the viewfinder. This, again, takes practice, but with some trial and error, you can get there.

From there, you can move on to portraits, because portraits, when done indoors, give you the chance to control the lights and the setting, and this is quite important for somebody who is just starting out.

Of course, once you have done that, you can challenge the sun, on your terms. The key to good photography is persistence - learning from mistakes and a good eye are, of course, great, too. Most important, do not expect perfection the first time around. If you caught rather more of your finger than you wanted to in your first photo, do not get discouraged. After all, there is no way to go but up!








Manuel Wiggins is an accomplished niche website developer and author.

To learn more about photography tips [http://photographyforbeginners.info/photography-tips/] visit Photography For Beginners [http://photographyforbeginners.info] for current articles and discussions.


Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)

Canon Digital Rebel XSi 12.2 MP Digital SLR Camera with EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens (Black)3.0 MP Digital Camera with 1.5-Inch LCD Display

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Saturday, 16 October 2010

Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums - Icy Streams & Rain, Icicles & Snowflakes


More Of Water's Cold Season Photo Ops

In this article we'll cover photography tips for overcoming the photo doldrums with water as icy streams, freezing rain, icicles and snowflakes:

# 1 - Icy Streams: A quietly running stream won't make "tenacious grace" but after it thinly freezes over, it may sculpt the underside of the ice with the gently running water and any air bubbles that get trapped there. The resulting patterns can be very photogenic.

# 2 - Freezing Rain: A special instance of ice is freezing rain. Look for interesting things - grasses, leaves, branches and twigs, etc encased in it. Exposure can be tricky with the reflected light, so bracket your exposures!

# 3 - Icicles: Spikes of ice formed when ice or snow is melted by sunlight or some other heat source, and the resulting melted water runs or drips into an area where the temperature is below the freezing point, causing the water to refreeze. Over time continued water runoff/dripping causes the icicle to grow. Icicles can be found under roof edges of buildings and on branches and twigs, etc. Whether solitary or in groups, they can be very photogenic when back or side lit or hanging against a dark background.

# 4 - Snowflakes: You take these pictures outside by catching the flakes on a towel, then transferring the flakes with a short plastic stick to a microscope slide, then placing the slide on a somewhat larger piece of glass which is suspended about 6" above a sheet of colored poster board, then shoot straight down with a macro-focusing lens. For more sophisticated tools and techniques, just do an online search using "snowflake photos."

Self-Assignments For Above Photography Tips

Choose the projects that interest you most. Follow the photography tips conscientiously. Re-shoot when you aren't satisfied. Do it til you are satisfied. It'll take all your patience and passion. Your skills and eye will improve with the practice. Shoot especially in early and late light. Use a tripod as much as possible. Edit your results relentlessly. Pin small samples on the wall for a few days to study before making final prints for wall art.

Photography Tip # 1 - Icy Streams: Locate a quietly running stream in freezing weather and it will probably form smooth ice on top. The underside of the ice will be etched by the running water and any air bubbles in it, creating lines and patterns. Shoot straight down on it for an overall sharp picture.

Photography Tip # 2 - Freezing Rain: When a heavy freezing rain falls, the problem becomes one of too many interesting things to shoot! Take your time and look around to find something really outstanding, more or less by itself, with a dark or strongly colored background and shoot it.

Photography Tip # 3 - Icicles: In freezing weather check out the eaves troughs around rooftops of houses and heated garages, looking for icicles. Try, if possible, to find them around eye level or slightly lower so you can keep the entire icicle(s) sharp top to bottom when you take your pictures.

Photography Tip # 4 - Snowflakes: Set up your snowflake "studio" and proceed to get a couple of flakes together on your microscope slide. Place the slide above a piece of medium-dark blue poster board, and then shoot straight down on the flakes.

In the final article of this set we'll consider photography tips for overcoming the photo doldrums with two more of water's cold season photo op's: snow scenes and snow storms.








John Maxymuik authored this article which is 1 of a set of 6 on "Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums" providing tips to break the grip of the photo doldrums using the "ideal photo subject". To see examples of photography that made use of the "ideal photo subject" go to his fine art photography website at: http://ambienceimages.net


Nikon Coolpix L22 12.0 MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Red-primary)

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Digital Photography Tips - The Big Five Of Digital Photography


Digital Photography Tip One - Busting The Dust:

Digital SLRs with removable lenses are prone to dust landing on the sensor. Static electricity around the sensor can possibly contribute to attracting dust particles, or other elements to this sensitive area of your camera.

To get rid of the dust you can use a camera blower brush, and tilt the camera down while blowing. Take care not to get any of the hairs snagged inside!

Digital Photography Tip Two - Shedding Light On The Night:

For night photography using only a flash can leave you with a well exposed - but isolated - subject against a dark background. Most digital cameras nowadays have a slow-sync flash feature, which combines the short flash exposure with a proper exposure for the rest of the background. On a camera such as the Olympus SP500, this feature is a preset mode called "Night Portrait".

To ensure expert nighttime shooting, a good digital photography tip is to look for a digital camera with the following features: shutter speed of up to 30 seconds; shutter priority mode; manual ISO settings at least to 400; slow-sync shutter mode.

Digital Photography Tip Three - Nit-Picking About Pixels:

When buying a digital camera you will be confronted with a vast choice of various megapixel specifications. It is worth knowing that not all pixels are created equal!

Some cameras have more pixels crammed onto the same sensor size as another model. More pixels in this case means smaller, and therefore less effective pixels. In this situation the camera with fewer pixels on a similar-sized sensor, might actually produce better images all round.

Digital Photography Tip Four - Spice Up Your Space:

With digital photography you will find yourself taking more pictures - and chances - than ever before, without the worry of the cost of failure. However, that means you will need a lot of digital storage space, especially if you are diligent about making backup copies of your best work.

If you're doing out-of-town nature photography, a digital photography tip to keep in mind is to make sure you take along enough storage devices, such as a laptop, DVD's, and external hard drives. RAW images can quickly get you into storage problems!

Digital Photography Tip Five - Remember To Flash:

For great outdoor portraits, make sure you use your digital camera's fill flash, or flash on mode. Don't wait for the camera to decide whether or not the flash is necessary. It might decide that there is generally enough outdoor light.

The fill flash mode will ensure proper exposure for the background and enough flash to expose the subject in the foreground, leaving you with a professional looking portrait.

Lastly, remember that, if someone offers expert advice, they may expect a generous digital photography tip!

For more information visit Best-Digital-Photography.com








Rika Susan of Article-Alert.com researches, writes, and publishes full-time on the Web. Copyright of this article: 2006 Rika Susan. This article may be reprinted if the resource box and hyperlinks are left intact.


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Friday, 15 October 2010

Some Basic Digital Photography Tips For Beginners


Here I will layout a few basic digital photography tips that will help most beginners start off in the world of digital photography. Digital photography itself can be a big step forward from the old style photography which some people would know. Hopefully these few tips will help you to feel at home with your new camera.

Firstly before starting off always read your digital cameras user manual, this sounds stupid but its surprising to know that most people will throw theirs out and never read it. The users manual will tell you all you need to know about the camera itself and the functions and different settings available on the camera. Most importantly it will tell you how long to charge your camera battery before you use the camera at all. Sometimes if the battery is not charged for the correct period at the start you will never get the proper life time from the battery.

Another note I would like to add on the battery issue is never leave your camera lying for long periods with the battery still in it. If its not in use for long periods then remove the battery. Don't take the risk of damage.

Secondly if your in a town or city why not look around and see if you a have a camera club near by where you live. Even if there is a local college in the area they may have a camera club. It will definitely help to be able to ask people questions one to one and get peoples views and opinions. Sometimes they will have talks or competitions which will give you new ideas and you will learn to use your camera in different ways.

Learning the basics of camera use is very important because a digital camera can be expensive depending on the camera specification. There's not much point paying big money for a high specification camera when you dont know what most of the camera settings are for.

When you have read the users manual and properly charged and installed the battery, your ready to start taking photographs. At this stage a lot of new digital photographers will just start clicking away. But its the same as all photography you must hold your camera steady and push the shoot button gently.

Sometimes digital cameras can be small and feel very light when your handling them, but you must still hold them steady when taking photographs. There's no point in having a one off picture opportunity only to see later that the picture has been shaken. This will not be as important with buildings or landscape photographs as you can take them over a few times and just delete the ones you don't want.

I hope these few basic digital photography tips will help you when starting out, and hopefully you will have no problem taking great photographs.








If you would like to read some more digital photography tips and tricks like the ones mentioned in this article, you can do so here: http://www.Digital-Photography-Tips-And-Tricks.com


Different Types of Portrait Photography - Tips & Suggestions


The term portrait may refer to Portrait Painting and Portrait Photography both - here, the facial expression of the subject is captured by the painter or the photographer. People interested in a career in portrait photography should know the basics of this subject and maintain these guidelines while taking pictures of people.

Portrait photography has many branches; let's learn about them first.

Different types of Portrait Photography:

Portrait photography is further classified under four main sections:


Close-ups

Facial Shots
Upper Body Shots
Environmental Portrait

Professional photographers always try to capture the true self of a person through photography. However, with a camera focusing on the face, people become nervous and make faces that do no represent their real personality or the mood. And the photograph looks artificial.

An expert photographer would follow his own tricks to make the person feel comfortable and relaxed so that the right facial expression is captured. As a photographer you have to make the subject feel easy and not worried about the camera. While taking pictures of professional models, you don't need to worry at all as they are quite trained on how to face the camera. But general people become very much camera-conscious during photo shoot. Hence, to capture natural photographs, you have to take few snaps without making them aware. You may go through portrait photography tips to know more about such tricks.

Some easy and widely practiced tricks are stated below:

Ask your subject to get ready for a photograph; let them prepare for the snap; and then take a

picture. Now as the shutter moves up and down and your subject starts to relax, take few more

snaps very fast. This would help you capture their true persona.

Some professionals tell funny jokes while taking pictures to ease up the situation; some ask the subjects to engage in some easy and fun activities and take the snaps when the person is unaware of the camera.

The activities may depend on the age of the subject. For example, if you are taking portrait of a child, ask him or her to look at a picture and count number of circles in it. OR ask them to play with toy, solve a puzzle or copy an easy illustration.

Tackling children is quite easy than adults. A matured person is very much aware of the situation and knows that you are trying to distract his mind from the camera. Hence, you may need to choose some other tricks.

Some professional portrait photographers prefer to chat with their subject for hours before taking them to the shooting floor. You can engage someone to talk with the subject when you prepare your camera, lens and lights. You can also ask them to continue talking when you take pictures.

You can also think of some tricks of your own OR consult professional portrait photographers for more effective ideas. Many such methods, tips and tricks of portrait photography are available online. You can go through online photography tutorials or attend workshops to know more about portrait photography.








Author's Bio:
Vernon Southward, a freelance photographer, self published author and photograper by passion. For more information on photography, portrait photography tips , macro photography, he recommends you to visit: Beyondmegapixels.


Wedding Photography Tips For When You Hire a Professional Wedding Photographer


Today I went to interview a professional wedding photographer for my wedding occurring next year, and it sparked an idea to share my experience with my readers. As a wedding event planner, why not provide some wedding photography tips and a wedding photography checklist to help another fellow bride with her wedding?

I think it is important when you are researching a professional wedding photographer to let your groom in on the experience. (Based upon the fact that he's interested!) My fiancee happens to be a professional photographer so he has a vested interest in this part of the wedding.

Therefore, take a look at different photographers' portfolios, ask your friends, relatives, your wedding event planner for references as well as research online at various wedding sites that offer suggestions and wedding photography tips when you are first selecting your photographer.

Next, go and interview your potential photographer like I did today (well, I didn't really interview Michael since I have worked with him as a wedding event planner on other weddings)! It's important that you and your fiancee are comfortable with your photographer so that you will look relaxed and happy in your pictures no matter what happens at the party.

Discuss with your professional wedding photographer what type of pictures you are looking for.

* Do you want wedding portraits or journalistic-styled pictures?

* Do you want black and white and color shots?

* What type of wedding photography package do they offer?

Prior to the meeting, you should create a wedding photography checklist to help you focus in on hiring the right type of photographer for you and your fiancee.

Other wedding photography tips to think about include providing the photographer with the name of your other vendors, such as the DJ, wedding event planner and florist since many times they work together at other weddings and will talk amongst themselves as to what important shots should be captured that day.

Also, very important, well in advance of your wedding, create a wedding photography checklist for your wedding day. Remember to include and write down which type of family shots you want and who you want in them, ceremony shots, bridal room shots, candid pictures during cocktails and the reception and party shots to name a few.

Keep in mind where you're getting married (indoors or outdoors) as well as the time of day. You want to make sure that your photographer knows the people you want photographed by face and/or name so you might want to consider making a Facebook for your photographer. All of these elements are just the tip of the iceberg when you start to generate your checklist, and this is why you want to start early with your list and then continue to add to it up until your wedding day.

I hope you found these wedding photography tips helpful for when you start your selection of a professional wedding photographer. It is not only important to create a wedding photography checklist during the selection process but also one for the wedding itself. Until next time, remember the Budget Bash mantra: make it simple, delicious, stylish, fun & economical to all!








Andrea Wyn is owner of A Wynning Event http://www.awynningevent.com, a Los Angeles wedding and special event management company. She is a marketing & special event planner with over 15 years of experience and for the past ten years, she has been the event planner for the Screen Actors Guild Awards(R). She has taken her knowledge and special event experience and written an easy-to-read book called Budget Bash http://www.budgetbashbook.com where you can find more ideas and helpful tips on event planning including menus, decor, budgets, timelines, florals and more.


Thursday, 14 October 2010

Photography Tips For the Photo Doldrums - Snow Scenes & Storms


Two More Of Water's Cold Season Photo Ops

In this sixth and final article on photography tips for solving the photo doldrums we'll cover two more of water's cold season photo op's: snow scenes and snow storms.

# 1 - Snow scenes: After the snow has just fallen they can be beautiful, before they get marred with footprints and tire tracks. Especially are they beautiful to see at sunrise and sunset when the snow takes on the colors from the sky. Just remember to compensate your meter reading + 1 to 1-1/2 stops.

# 2 - Snow storms: Check the forecast for details, then you'll know what your possibilities are. For example, if a large wet flake snow fall is predicted and wind will accompany it, forecasted to drop off to calm before the snow stops, you might have the makings of an unusual snow scene. The wind will paste the wet falling snow to the exposed vertical surfaces facing it and then, when it drops off to calm, allow the snow to come straight down onto every exposed horizontal surface. Walking through the scenery in the direction the wind was moving yields a snow-scape that looks much like a black and white negative.

Self-Assignments For Above Photography Tips

Choose the projects that interest you most. Follow the photography tips conscientiously. Re-shoot when you aren't satisfied. Do it til you are satisfied. It'll take all your patience and passion. Your skills and eye will improve with the practice. Shoot especially in early and late light. Use a tripod as much as possible. Edit your results relentlessly. Pin small samples on the wall for a few days to study before making final prints for wall art.

Photography Tip # 1 - Snow scenes: Get outside immediately after a fresh snowfall and locate a scene without tire tracks or footprints just at sunrise and shoot it. Do it with both a moderate wide angle and a moderate tele focal length.

Photography Tip # 2 - Snow storms: If you can get outside during a storm to a location in a park with evergreen trees or a large number of deciduous trees along the shore of a pond or lake, shoot with a slow shutter speed, or else make a double exposure of the scene: one exposure in focus, the other out of focus, for an unusual picture.

Conclusions

The photography tips listed in this 6-article set serve to underline a vital point: water is, indeed, an ideal photo subject! It's almost everywhere and, in line with the seasons, it readily provides a nearly endless number of ways at almost any time to take fresh and interesting images for overcoming the photo doldrums,.

Let's quickly recap the ways covered in this 6 - article set in which we covered photography tips for shooting water as the ideal photo subject for overcoming the photo doldrums:

* waves, waterscapes & waterfalls

* reflections, abstracts, splash, spray, foam, bubbles & puddles

* condensation, hail, mist & Fog

* frost, ice, re-freeze & 'tenacious grace'

* icy streams, freezing rain, icicles & snowflakes

* snow scenes & snow storms

Remember, to tap it's visual possibilities you just need to get past the barrier of familiarity. To do that, you just need to take another look, and a bit more closely the second time.








John Maxymuik authored this article as 1 of a 6-article set on "Photography Tips For The Photo Doldrums" to provide ways to break the grip of the photo doldrums with the use of the "ideal photo subject".
To see examples of photography that made use of the "ideal photo subject" go to his fine art photography website at: http://ambienceimages.net


Fashion Photography Tips For Success


We see them all over the place; in television advertisements, in magazines, and on the runway. They are the beautiful men and women who strut their stuff while showing off the latest styles from the hottest fashion designers. These are the fashion models of today and tomorrow, and the subject of high fashion photography. It is through photography that these models and fashionable clothing are brought to the public. Therefore, these photographs must be taken with a certain level of precision and a special attention to color, style, and lighting composition. Learning a few key fashion photography tips will help to make this possible.

High fashion photographers such as Mario Testino and Eva Mueller may not be as famous as the models they shoot, but they are actually sought out more than their model counterparts by fashion magazines and designers. While the dream of huge paychecks and hobnobbing with the rich and famous might appeal to the aspiring fashion photographer, it is not easy to become successful in fashion and model photography. For every one talented young photographer who makes it big, there are hundreds are left dreaming about the moment their photo will be chosen.

Here are a few fashion photography tips for anyone interested in getting started in the field of fashion photography. The first thing you must do is study your subject. As with any field, you can never learn enough. Read as many fashion magazines you can possibly get your hands on. There are a number of fantastic books on the subjects of fashion and model photography available. They can be purchased cheaply online at sites like Amazon.com or even cheaper if you get them used on eBay. You will also need a good camera, a tripod, and a lighting system. One of the more often overlooked fashion photography tips, is to ensure that you always have plenty of film and extra batteries available.

One of the most important fashion photography tips to focus on is having a portfolio. You need to start assembling a portfolio of your work and you need to keep this portfolio handy at all times. You never know when you will have the opportunity to show your work off to someone in the fashion world. Sharp, vibrant images on a 4 x 5" transparency will best show off your work, so focus on them when putting your fashion photography portfolio together. If any of your work has already been published regardless of whether it was a local magazine, newspaper or contest, add a tear sheet (literally a sheet you torn out of the magazine) is a great addition to a portfolio. You should have a minimum of 20 photographs in your portfolio and showcasing different styles.

In this day of the internet, it is wise to display your fashion photography talent online as well. Setup a simple website displaying your work and submit your digital photos to online contests. Also, submit them to online fashion gallery websites. This will help tremendously with getting your work seen and showcasing your talent around the world. Probably the most important of all the fashion photography tips is to get your photographs seen by as many people as possible. There is no better way of doing this than by putting them online.

Remember that most fashion magazine editors are looking for your personality in the photographs that you take. Each fashion photographer will captures the essence of a fashion design and model differently. Most importantly, if this is your dream, do not give up, ever! Keep learning the latest high fashion photography tips and keep working to get your photographs on the cover of my next hot fashion magazine.








Charlotte Plante is an avid photographer who runs a successful photography website dedicated to the fields of fashion photography, wedding photography, and more. For great digital photography tips, discount offers, and more, visit Charlotte's website at http://digitalphotographyarticles.com

Online Digital Photography Course


3 Key Photography Tips in Digital Photography


Digital photography is the newest form of photography. As the name suggests, it entails the use of modern cameras and equipment. Despite the fact that the camera has the capability to read just itself in various lighting conditions as well as focus points, you can get great pictures from an inexpensive and small digital camera through following three basic digital photography tips.

The very first entails the tomes. This refers to the feeling that the photograph visually carries. The tone may be described as cool, dull, calm or exiting. To get the best of your digital camera, you can warm up the tone by readjusting the white balance. Thus this often set at auto for most cameras as it's the ideal white balance for all shots. It though leans more to the cool side of tone. Readjusting the white balance to the various other settings given on the digital camera goes a long way towards getting a one of a kind picture. Vary the white balance when indoors as well as outdoor.

The second key photography tip entails the process of lighting up the images through the use of a polarizing filter. This will reduce the glare and reflection especially in landscapes and other outdoor shooting. Through the filter, you are not only able to get images that have clear colors that are well saturated but also images that are rich in texture. Last but certainly not the least, ensure to use the flash. A number of photographers tend to switch off the flash when outdoors. Through the use of the flash, the back ground is illuminated first with the image being picked up vividly as the picture is taken. This is a photography tip that is used by not only wedding photographers but also a number of professionals to improve the over all shine of the image.








Providing you the best digital photography tips and tricks on the internet by leveraging the expertise of the worlds top photographers. HowiTooKit also features information on photography lighting styles and digital slr tutorials.


Wednesday, 13 October 2010

Digital Photography Secrets

Tricks and Techniques for Better Images With Your Digital Camera. Everything the professionals know, but dont want You to know about using your digital camera to take stunning photos!


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Photography Tips For Newbies


This article explains a few things about photography, and if you're interested, then this is worth reading, because you can never tell what you don't know, especially when you want to join some of forums and discussions about this topics, then this article will be useful for you more or less, in order for you to get some of new ideas from the discussions you have joined.

As there are so many photography novices are very concerns about their techniques to get good quality photographs. As we all know that there is no one who can be called the photograph expert, who could come to us and give some tips and techniques for novices like us, unless you pay a bit of money to join photograph school. What we are doing when we take photo graph is to find the best quality camera, and believe that that magic functions of the camera (as advertised) will help us to get good quality pictures without having other specific technique of photography.

In fact, this is quite true but just some part of the whole truth. We take photograph by ourselves only when it is informal occasions, such as when you are traveling to other places with your friends or take photographs during family part. However, in our life time, there are still so many occasions that need formal picture and may need a photograph professional to take care of this stuff, the example of there occasions are weeding ceremony or wedding reception, graduation ceremony etc. That is precisely why at most important occasions people hire the services of a professional photographer.

Therefore, we may need a professional for these occasions but in the mean time, the cost for hiring a professional photographer is very high and very difficult for someone who has very limited budget. So for many photograph newbies, then try to find photography tips in order to help them to get good quality pictures without paying fortune for professional. Here is some tips for you, which I have gather some of them for professionals that I have known recently.

Firstly, try to get everyone into the picture frame. It is the fact that sometimes when novice taking photograph, they did not ask everyone who want to take a picture included in the picture frame, then when the film is developed there is someone is not included in the picture and this is really ashamed. For you, as a beginner this mistake is usually happened, Therefore you have to make sure that you guide everyone to include themselves in the frame before taking a shot because they will never know until the photographer tell them.

Secondly, when you shooting outdoor, many of beginners have trouble with sunlight direction which really effect to the quality of picture. You have to make sure that you will not shooting directly with the sunlight, which will create the dark shade on the picture. You can see that there's practical value in learning more about photography. Can you think of ways to apply what's been covered so far.








Sarn Anattar:For article about photography tips [http://www.articlephotography.com/photography-tips-for-newbies] information, please visit www.articlephotography.com, a popular site providing great insights about photography training, camera types, and more.


Profitable Photography

How to easily start up & market a profitable photography business - even if you have never been in business before. Make up to $720 pw, part-time with your camera, selling photos.


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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 8x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Red)

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 14.1 MP Digital Camera with 8x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.7-Inch LCD (Red)Panasonic DMC-FH20 Digital Camera Features

The DMC-FH20 sports a powerful 8x optical zoom lens (35mm camera equivalent: 28-224mm). This gives you highly natural expressions from people and animals that you can't get close to. And its slim, compact, pocket-sized body can easily go wherever you do for both everyday snapshots and traveling.

28mm Wide-angle Lens
The 28mm wide-angle lens* lets you easily capture large groups of people indoors or expansive architectural structures and scenes with dynamic width and rich perspective, even from short distances.
* Converted to standard 35mm camera equivalent, at the maximum wide position.

Powerful 8x Optical Zoom
The DMC-FH20 sports a powerful 8x optical zoom lens (35mm camera equivalent: 28-224mm). This gives you highly natural expressions from people and animals that you can't get close to. And its slim, compact, pocket-sized body can easily go wherever you do for both everyday snapshots and traveling.

iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode
When you don't know which mode will give you the best shooting results, or when a sudden photo opportunity pops up and you don't have time to make any settings, simply choose iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode by simply pressing the dedicated button and let the camera do it all for you. You just choose iA Mode, aim at your subject, and shoot. 4 detection and correction functions are simultaneously activated to optimize the settings, so you get stunning photos every time.

HD Movie Recording (1,280 x 720 pixels at 30 fps in Motion JPEG Format)
The DMC-FH20) can record motion images in high-definition (1,280 x 720 pixels at 30 fps in Motion JPEG format). The pixel mixed readout method enables bright motion-image recording even in low-light settings. The DMC-FH20 can also record full-size motion images in WVGA (848 x 480 pixels at 30 fps) or standard motion images in VGA (640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps) and QVGA (320 x 240 pixels at 30 fps)

Price: $179.00


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Tuesday, 12 October 2010

The Photography Secret Manual

 The Photography Secret Manual is a beginners guide to taking stunning photos with secrets from the pros.

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Nikon Coolpix L22 12.0MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Black)

Nikon Coolpix L22 12.0MP Digital Camera with 3.6x Optical Zoom and 3.0-Inch LCD (Black)Nikon CoolPix L22-Black--12.0MP 3,6x optical zoom with 3.0-inch 230K-dot LCD, Easy Auto Mode automatically activates Scene Auto Selector, 3-way eVR with Miotion Detection, Hi ISO to ISO 1600, 2-AA battery compatible Smart Portrait System with Skin Softening Make Memories. Share Joy. Easy to use and share your images on the huge 3?screen.

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Nikon Coolpix L20 10MP Digital Camera with 3.6 Optical Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Deep Red)

Nikon Coolpix L20 10MP Digital Camera with 3.6 Optical Zoom and 3 inch LCD (Deep Red)Nikon Coolpix L20 digital camera.

Price: $119.95


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Monday, 11 October 2010

Kodak EasyShare Z915 10MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5 inch LCD Black Kit (includes Battery, Charger and Bag)

Kodak EasyShare Z915 10MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5 inch LCD Black Kit (includes Battery, Charger and Bag)The Kodak Z915 Digital Camera Bundle has everything you need from a included camera case for protection to to you always being prepared with rechargeable batteries. The Kodak Z915 Digital Camera brings high-definition pictures right into the palm of your hands. Protect your camera with the included Kodak carrying case. Featuring a sleek and sophisticated black exterior, the Kodak Z915 is ideal for photo enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Grasp each fine detail and the full vibrancy of every shot with the integrated 10-megapixel sensor that allows you to develop prints up to an astonishing 30 x 40-inches. Capture pictures in a widescreen format then see them in high definition on your HDTV. Order the Kodak Z915 Digital Camera Bundle today!

Price: $199.95


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Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD (Deep Red)

Canon PowerShot SD780IS 12.1 MP Digital Camera with 3x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch LCD (Deep Red)It may be Canon's slimmest Digital ELPH, but it's selection of photo-friendly options is undeniably wide. From full HD movie capture to peak performance in even the most unforgiving shooting conditions, this digital camera is on the cutting edge of point-and-shoot picture taking. One-year warranty. Model SD780IS.

Price: $240.99


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Canon PowerShot SX20IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch Articulating LCD

Canon PowerShot SX20IS 12.1MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.5-inch Articulating LCD-12.1 megapixels-720p high-definition video- 20x wide-angle optical zoom with optical image stabilizer-2.5 wide vari-angled LCD- DIGIC(R) 4 Image processor-Requires AA batteries

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Sunday, 10 October 2010

Fujifilm FinePix S1800 12.2 MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom and 3-Inch LCD

Fujifilm FinePix S1800 12.2 MP Digital Camera with 18x Wide Angle Optical Dual Image Stabilized Zoom and 3-Inch LCDFujifilm FinePix S1800 - 12MP, Fujinon 18x Wide Optical Zoom (28 - 504mm), 3.0" LCD + Viewfinder. Other features include: Face Detection w/ Red Eye Removal, Face Recognition, Tracking Auto Focus, Dual Image Stabilization, High Sensitivity 6400 ISO, 6 Scene - SR Auto Automatic Scene Recognition, Panorama Mode, HD Movie 720p w/ Sound, Instant Zoom/Zoom Bracketing, Smile/Blink Detection Mode, 4-AA Batteries.

Price: $229.95


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Family Photography Tips - The Good Group Photo


Probably the hardest picture to set up and pull off is the group family photograph. These pictures only really work when everyone is on the same page, looking at the camera and smiling at the same time. Synchronizing by getting everyone to say "cheese" is the typical way to get everyone smiling. But it doesn't always work.

Here are some things to think about when trying to snap that lovely family portrait to make everyone happy:

Put the Group at Ease - It is essential that all participants in the photo are at ease and comfortable with each other as well as the photographer. If the photographer also happens to be a family member then being at ease should not be a problem. With no strangers in the midst, relaxing before the camera is not a problem.

Move into Scene - Don't be afraid to move into the scene, cutting out the background and focusing just on the people. Crop off the top of the head of the taller people, in order to emphasize a connection among family members. Allow the drama of kinship and love to play out before the camera. Let the family members interact before snapping the picture. Saying "cheese" while always listed as one of the most important family photography tips, is not always a good one, and will make people go rigid and become less candid, so sit them down and let them get comfortable. The good shot will follow as you watch.

Blur the Background - Blurring out the background makes the people aspect more dramatic. It makes the family the focus of attention, because, after all, the family unit is what you're shooting.

Candid within the Group - There is always someone in the family at a gathering who doesn't want to sit for a picture. Today's small compact cameras make it simple to get candid shots without have to pose everyone. Keep the camera in your pocket as you work the room. Find your shot and compose it and shoot quickly. It takes practice, but grab-shots do come out well with a little thought and focus.

Taking Multiple Shots - When trying to capture everyone in one group, the only real successful way to do it is to take many shots, and quickly. Shooting in rapid bursts of three or four shots at a time will get the good shot for which you're looking. The first shot is usually a throwaway shot. However, the second or third will probably be the keeper. Shoot some shots before everyone is ready. Some of the best pictures are of the actual organizing to sit part of the activity.

Timing is Everything - Choosing your timing carefully will make or break the shot. However, true timing can only be learned with practice. Another of the suggestions that tops the list of family photography tips is that the quicker you learn to compose or to know what you want in composition the better will be your timing. Try to work taking of the picture within the natural flow of events, when the family is naturally together rather than artificially posed making them more rigid.

Lighting - No matter what type of photography, lighting is probably the most important element. In most instances a small flash will be sufficient. However, bigger family groups may require more lighting. Taking the photograph outside in natural light makes for an easier, less stressful shot.

Taking Control - It is paramount for the photographer to maintain control of the situation and communication is the key. Keep talking to your subjects making them understand what you want to do and need for them to do to make for a happy situation. If you have a really large group to photograph, then use a tripod and have someone act as your assistant.

Smile - Finally, there is nothing worse than a grumpy old photographer, so smile. That will put everyone else who has to take part, at ease. Have fun, act like you're enjoying the process. It's okay to crack a joke or two in order to get everyone to loosen up. And don't be afraid to be creative. Think outside the box. The group can be a group without sitting down next to one another with another row standing at attention behind. Emphasize other items of "family-ness." Play with it. Enjoy!

I hope you have found these family photography tips useful.








Jonnie Blaylock is a hobbyist photographer that helps new photographers learn the fundamentals with his Family Photography Tips and more.